PH wins maritime arbitration ruling vs China

The Philippines unanimously won the maritime arbitration case against Chine’s claims to the entirety of the South China Sea. The case was ruled by an international panel of judges at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on Tuesday.The Arbitral Tribunal, composed of five members, backed up Manila’s position that the “nine-dash line” maritime claim of China is excessive and has trespassed the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The “nine-dash line” is China’s allegedly historical boundary that covers about 85% of the South China Sea and also includes 80% of the Philippines EEZ in the West Philippine Sea.

Photo by Photo by Jay Directo/AFP

The judges ruled that China’s claim to historic rights to resources within the sea areas within the “nine-dash line” has no legal basis and that none of the Spratly Islands grant China an EEZ. Additionally, the tribunal cloud also declared that certain areas in the Spratly Islands are within the Philippine’s EEZ.They also ruled that China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights by interfering with fishing and petroleum activities, constructing artificial islands, and failing from discontinuing the fishing of their citizens in the zone.Despite this, China has refused to acknowledge and accept the arbitration. They also didn’t participate in the proceedings. However, in December 2014, they published a “Position Paper” explaining why the tribunal has no jurisdiction over the case.The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has called the ruling a “milestone decision”. It is would serve as an important contribution to the ongoing efforts in addressing conflicts in the South China Sea.According to DFA Secretary Perfecto Yasay, experts were already studying the decision “with the care and thoroughness that this significant arbitral outcome deserves.”He called on to those concerned to exercise restraint and sobriety. He also asserted that the Philippines would continue to pursue a peaceful resolution of the conflict and to promote peace and stability in the region.Former president Benigno Aquino III and his foreign secretary, Albert del Rosario, have been noted saying in regard to the maritime dispute: “What is ours is ours.” | ASCS - FNPHSource: CNN